Motor-driven actuating mechanism for a pivotable operating handle of an electrical control device

ABSTRACT

Through an arrangement of linkages the rotary motion of the output shaft of a reversible gear motor is converted into linear motion to actuate a handle operating carriage and thereby also a pivotable operating handle of an electrical control device. A manually operable means for moving the carriage is also provided which includes means for automatically disconnecting the power to the gear motor upon application of a tool.

United States Patent [1 Palmer et a]. v

1 Feb. 26, 1974 1 MOTOR-DRIVEN ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR A PIVOTABLE OPERATING HANDLE OF AN ELECTRICAL CONTROL DEVICE V [75] Inventors: Neil R. Palmer, Cedar Rapids;

Joseph R. Karge, Anamo'sa, both of Iowa [73] Assignee: Square D Company, Park Ridge, 111.

[22] Filed: Aug. 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:'284,8l4

[52] U.S. CI. 335/69, 335/74 [51] Int. Cl. IIOlh 3/32 [58] Field 'of Search 335/68, 69, 70, 71, 74', 1 200/153; 192/143, 150

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,286,211 11/1966 Soos 335/68 Archer et al 335/69 3,171,920 3/1965 Klein et a1. 335/69 3,539,043 11/1970 Brochetti....'. 192/50 3,559,121 1/1971 Powell et a1. 335/68 3,312,916 10/1965 Pendy et a1. 335/74 Primary Examiner-Harold Broome Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harry G. Thilbault; Harold J. Rathbun; Paul .1. Rose 57 ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENTED FEB26 I974 saw u 0P5 PATENTEDFEBZBW $794,943

SHEET 5 UF 5 I'M/sergl MOTOR-DRIVEN ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR A PIVQTABLE OPERATING HANDLE or AN ELECTRICAL co sTRoI. nEvIcE This invention relates to a motor-driven actuating mechanism for a pivotable operating handle of an electrical control device. An object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically powered actuating mechanismfor moving a'pivotable operatinghandle of a molded case circuit breaker selectively to ON and OFF positions. Another object is to provide a manually operable actuating mechanism for an operating handle of a circuit I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objectsand vadvantages will become apparent when the following specification is considered along with the accompanying drawings in'which;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a molded case circuit breaker and a motor-driven handle actuating mechanism therefor constructed in'accordance with the invention, a cover for the actuating mechanism being removed and the position of the parts corresponding to an OFF position of the circuit breakerhandle;.

'FlG QZis asectional view of the handle actuating mechanism of FIG. 1 taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 3, with certain parts removed and portions of other parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3'is a front view of the handle actuating mechanism of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a lower end view of the mechanism of FIG. 1, with portions broken'away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the position of the parts corresponding to an ON position of the circuit breaker handle;

FIG. 6is a fragmentary front viewof the'handle actuating mechanism of FIG. 1, but with the position of the parts corresponding to the ON position of the circuit breaker handle; I

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of portions of the handle actu ating mechanism of FIG. I;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 6, with portions broken away;

FIG. 9 is a view, similar to FIG. 8, but with the position of the parts corresponding to the OFF position of the circuit'breaker handle;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 10l0 of FIG. v3, withcert'ain parts removed;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a manually operable means for moving a handle operating carriage of the actuating mechanism of FIG. 1; v I

FIG. 12 is a view of the parts of FIG. 11 looking in the direction of arrows 12-12 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 13 is a view similar to' FIG. 12, but showing the displacementfof various parts by a tool.

With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 showa motor-driven handle actuating mechanism 18.

constructed in accordance with the invention and mounted on a panel P and on a molded case circuit breaker 20, which is also mounted on the panel I. The circuit breaker may be similar to that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,525,837, issued Aug. 25, I970. The actuating mechanism 18 includes a gear motor enclosure 22 disposed adjacent the circuit breaker 20 and comprising an L-shaped member 23 forming a base plate 24 and an interior wall 25 of the enclosure 22. The base plate 24 is suitably attached to the panel P. The wall 25 lies adjacent to the circuit breaker 20 and extends for wardly of a front planar surface of the circuit breaker 20. A supporting frame 26 of the mechanism 18 rests on the front planar surface of the circuit breaker 20 and is rigidly secured to the wall 25.

Mounted in the gear motor enclosure 22 is a reversible gear motor 28 having an output shaft 29 extending 'therefrom. Another end portion of the shaft 29 is mounted in a hole (not shown) in the wall 25.

v A torque limiting device 30 mounted on the output shaft 29 includes a pair of spaced inner drive plates 31 rotatable by the shaft 29 and biased apart by a pair of spring washers 32 therebetween into engagement re- Spectively with a pair of friction plates 33 which respectively yieldably drive a pair of spaced output plates 34 and 35 rotatably mounted on the shaft 29. The plates 34 and 35 are of larger diameter than washers 31, drive plates 32, and friction plates 33, and are axially retained against the force of the spring washers 32 by a plurality of screws 36 provided respectively with spacers 37. The screws 36 are disposed about the periphery of output plates 34 and 35 and threaded into the output plate 34. I

The output plate 34 has a pair of peripheral tabs 38 extending radially outwardly in opposite directions. When the gear motor 28 is activated'in one direction through one pair of power leads (not shown) by operation of a double-throw control switch (not shown), the rotary motion of the shaft 29 is transmitted to the plate 34, thereby causing the plate 34 to rotate substantially minus thean'gle subtended by one of the tabs 38. At the completion of travel of the plate 34, one of the tabs 38 shifts an operating handle 39 of a double-throwswitch 40 mounted on abracket 41 secured to the wall 25. The operation ofthe switch 40 interrupts the power to the gear motor 28 through the one pair of power leads and completes a circuit through a reversely connected pair of power leads (notshown) to the gear motor, whereby subsequent reversal of the control switch (not shown) will activate the gear motor in an opposite direction. As the first tab 38 strikes the handle 39 of the toggle switch 40, the second tab 38 engages a spring stop 42 comprised of a pair of L-shaped spring members mounted back-to-back on the base plate 24 within the enclosure 22.

An idler plate 46 is loosely mounted on the output shaft 29 of the gear motor 28 between the output plate 35 and the wall 25. The idler plate 46 is similar to the output plate 35, but has no peripheral holes as for the screws 36. Each of the plates 35 and 46 is provided with a peripheral tab such as a tab .43 shown on the output plate 35. A pin 48 having opposite end portions mounted respectively in the tab 43 and the correspond- 7 ing tab on the idler plate 46 pivotally connects one end portion of a connecting link 44 to the plates 35 and 46.

The frame 26 is generally rectangular and has a base plate 50 resting on a front planar surface of the circuit breaker 20 and having an opening therein which accommodates a pivotal operating handle 52 of the circuit breaker 20. Extending forwardly perpendicularly from the base plate 50 are a pair of flanges which form end walls 54 and 56 of the frame 26, the walls 54 and 56 also being generally perpendicular to the directions of travel of the circuit breaker handle 52. The end walls 54 and 56 terminate at the wall 25 between the circuit breaker 20 and the gear motor 28 and are suitably attached to the wall 25. A pair of L-shaped members 57 and 58 respectively having guide plate portions 59 and 60 are disposed parallel to the directions of travel of the circuit breaker handle 52 and on opposite sides thereof. Base legs 62 and 64 of members 57 and 58, respectively, are suitably mounted on the base plate 50 of the frame 26. The guide plates 59 and 60 have aligned front longitudinal slots 66 and 68 (F IG. 1) provided therein, and guide plate 59 also has an intermediate longitudinal slot 70 and a rear longitudinal slot 74 for a purpose to be described later. Similar slots 72 and 76 (FIG. respectively aligned with the slots 70 and 74 are provided in the guide plate 60.

The connecting link 44 is an elongated flat member in the shape of an obtuse angle andthe opposite end portion from the pin 48 is pivotally connected to a pair' of spaced parallel driving links 78 by a pin 79. The opposite end portions of the driving links 78 from the pin 79 are provided respectively with a pair of aligned hexagonal apertures in which an end portion of an elongated hexagonal drive shaft 82 is received for rotation therewith. Rotatably supporting the drive shaft 82 are three. apertured bearing blocks 84 mounted in spaced relationship on the base plate 50. Clearanceopenings are provided in the wall 25 and the guide plates 59 and 60 for the drive shaft 82.

A pair of actuating links 86 and 88 are disposed respectively onthe outer sides of the guide plates 59 and 60 and rigidly connected at first end portions thereof to the drive shaft 82. Preferably the links 86 and 88 are doubled in thickness for extra strength, each being two pieces in flatwise abutment opposite end portions of the links 86 and 88 are pivotally connected respectively to first end portions of a pair of reciprocable connecting links 90 and 92 by a pair of pins 89 and 91. Rigidly mounted respectively at mid-portions of the links 90 and 92 are a pair of generally Z-shaped members 94 and 96. A mounting leg of the Z-shaped member 94 is riveted to the mid-portion of vthe connecting link 90 a and antopposite free leg portion is generally aligned with a second end portion of the connecting link 90. The connecting link 92 and the Z-shaped member 96 are similarly joined. As best shown in FIG. 7, aligned openings in the second end portion of the connecting link 90 and the free leg portion of the Z-shaped member 94 receive a driving pin 98 having a driving end portion 100 which extends into the longitudinal slot 70 in the guide plate 59. Similarly, the second end portion of the connecting link 92 and the free leg portion of the Z-shaped member 96 have aligned openings which receive a driving pin 102 having a driving portion which is received in the longitudinal slot 72 in the guide plate 60.

The slot 70 has a cam surface 106 (FIG. 7) defined by a trapezoidal configuration. A flat central surface 108 of the cam surface 106 is terminated at opposite ends respectively by a pair of rearwardly extending surfaces 110 and 112 which terminate respectively in enlarged opposite end portions 114 and 116 of the slot. Similarly, the slot 72 (FIG. 10) in the guide plate 60 has 'a cam surface which corresponds to the cam surface 106. A gage block is adjustably secured by a pair of socket-head screws 131 and- 132 to the guide plate 59 and is provided with a rearwardlyextending surface 133 parallel with the surface 110 and a front surface 134 coextensive with the surface 108. The screws 131 and 132 extend through the slot 74 and the adjustable positioning of the gage block 130 effectively changes the length of the cam surface 108. An alignedgage block 135 (FIG. 10) is similarly mounted along the slot 76 of the guide plate 60.

The guide plates 59 and 60'support a handle actuating carriage 142 comprising a mounting member or a base plate 144 having rearwardly extending flanges 146 and 148. Preferably the base plate 144 is provided with suitable ON, OFF, and TRIPPED indicia only one at a time of which is visible through a window (not shown) in the cover (not shown) to indicate the condition of the circuit breaker 20. Pairs of aligned openings in flanges 146 and 148 respectively accommodate a pair of elongated carriage supporting pins 138 and opposite end portions of which are supported respectively by the guide plates 59 and 60 in the slots 66 and 68 thereof. A pair of generally L-shaped handle gripping fingers 150 and 152 of the carriage 142 are secured to and extend rearwardly from the base platel44 and grip the operating handle 52. Reciprocably mounted on the pins138 and 140 respectively on the outer sides of the flanges 146 and 148 are a pair of slotted driving link members 154 and 156 each having a rearwardly extending tang at a mid-portion thereof, such as a tang 158 shown on the member 154. Suitable fastening means on the pins 138 and 140 retain the carriage 142 on the guide plates 59 and 60.

A generally C-shaped bracket 162 is mounted on the supporting-pin 138 between the flanges 146 and 148 and has base legs abutting the rear surface of the base plate 144. One end portion of a link 164 is pivotally connected to a bight portionof the bracket 162 and the other end portion is pivotally connected to a free end portion of a crank arm 166 fixedly mounted at its other end portion on a drive shaft 168. The drive shaft'168 is held in place by a C-shaped support bracket 170having opposed leg portions which are rigidly attached to 7 opening in a projection 186 of the support bracket 170 and has a coil spring 188 mounted thereon between the projection 186 and the base leg 180. Under the influence of the spring 188, a rear base leg 190 of the member 178 normally maintains a pivotable actuating lever '192 in a closing position with respect to a normally open switch 194 having an outwardly biased depressible operating button 195. V

A pair of generally L-shaped leaf springs 196 and 198 are mounted on the base plate 50 of the'frame 26 respectively adjacent upper end portions of the slots 66 and 68 for a purpose to be described later."

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT When the handle 52 of the circuit breaker is in the OFF position (FIGS. l-4) and the control switch (not shown) is operated, the gear motor 28 is activated and rotates the output shaft 29 counter-clockwise from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 5, whereupon one of the tabs 38 operates the handle 39 of the switch 40 and the other tab 38 engages the stop 42. The counterclockwise rotation of the output plate 35 moves the operating link 44 downwardly in FIG. 3, or to the right in FIG. 2, causing the driving links 78, the drive shaft 82, and the actuating links 86 and 88 to turn counterclockwise and moving the connecting links 90 and 92, their members 94 and 96, and the driving pins 98 and 102 upwardly in FIG. 3, or to the left in FIG. 2.

As the driving pins '98 and 102 move to the left in FIG. 2, their respective driving portions engage the tangs of the driving link members 154 and 156, respectively, which in turn respectively engage opposite end portions of the pins 138 and 140 and move the carriage 142 to the ON position. Toward the end of travel, the driving pins 98 and 102 move along the sloping cam surface 110 of plate 59 (or the parallel surface 133 of the gage block 130) and the corresponding cam surface of plate 60(or the parallel surface of the. respective gage block), respectively, out of engagement with the tangs of the driving link members 154 and 156, whereupon the springs 196 and 198, which have been stressed to the dotted-line position of FIG. 10, return to their original L-shape and respectively move the members 154 and 156 partially back toward the OFF position until the tangs thereof are disposed on the opposite sides of the drivingpins 98 and 102 and ready for subsequent movement thereby to OFF position.

The reverse operation of the gear motor 28 to return the handle 52 of the circuit breaker 20 to the OFF position will be readily understood, with the exception that no leaf springs such as the leaf springs 196 and 198 need to be provided adjacent the OFF position of the carriage 142. The partial reverse movement of the driving link members 154 and 156 back toward ON position at the end of movement toward OFF position is accomplished by the internal operating mechanism of the circuit breaker 20 which moves the handle 52 from an extreme RESET position back to OFF position, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. I

To operate the circuit breaker manually, a suitable driving tool 200 in the form of a socket wrench'such as shown in FIG. 13 may be placed over the exposedsend of the drive shaft 168 to depress the collar 176. Inward movement of the collar 176 will cause the rear base leg 190 of the Z-shaped member 178 to release the acutating lever 192 and the operating button 195 of the normally open microswitch 194 thus interrupting the power circuit to the gear motor 28 for safety reasons. The driving tool 200 is then rotated in the appropriate direction to cause the crank arm 166 and the link 164 to move thecarriage 142 to the ON or OFF position.

Upon removal of the tool 200, the spring 188 restores the collar 176 and member 178 to their normal outward position, and the rear base leg 190 again engages the actuating lever 192 to depress the operating button 195 and close the switch 194.

Various modifications may be made in the structure shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An assembly comprising an electrical control device having an elongated, generally rectangular casing with a generally planar front surface and a generally planar side surface disposed at right angles to each other, the device also having a pivotable operating handle extending outwardly of the casing through the front surface thereof, and an actuating mechanism for the operating handle, the actuating mechanism including a reversible gear motor di'sposed adjacent the side surface of the casing rearwardly of the front surface and having a rotatable output shaft extending generally perpendicularly to the side surface of the casing, a frame mounted on the front surface of the casing and surrounding the operating handle, a handle operating carriage connected to the handle and reciprocably mounted on the frame for movement in the directions of pivotable movement of the handle, and motion converting means for converting rotary motion of the output shaft of the gear motor into linearly reciprocal movement of the handle operating carriage.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced elongated guide plates disposed parallel to the directions of travel of the pivotable operating handle on opposite sides thereof and each having a first longitudinal slot and a second longitudinal slot respectively aligned with those of the other, said handle operating carriage includes a mounting member having carriage supporting pin means projecting respectively from opposite sides thereof into the first slots of the guide plates, handle-gripping means secured to and extending rearwardly from the mounting member and gripping the operating handle of the electrical control device, and a pair of slotted driving link members disposed between the guide plates respectively on opposite sides of the mounting member and reciprocably mounted respectively on the carriage supporting pin means, each driving link member having-a tang extending rearwardly into overlapping relationship with the second slot of the respective guide plate, and said motion converting means includes a pair of driving pins respectively extending through the second slots of the guide plates from the outer sides thereof and being engageable respectively with the tangs of the driving link members. I

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second slot .of each of the guide plates is transversely.

enlarged adjacent opposite ends to permit disengagement of the driving pins respectively from the tangs of the driving link members and relative shifting of the driving pins respectively from one side of the tangs to the other.

. 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, including a pair of spring members mounted on the frame respectively adjacent the inner sides of the guide plates and adjacent one end of the first slots thereof, the spring membe rs being engageable respectively with the driving link members and insuring reverse shifting thereof after disengagement of the driving pins from the tangs thereof.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion converting means includes a torque limiting device.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the torque limiting device comprises a pair of inner drive plates, a pair of spring washers, a pair of friction plates,

and a pair of output plates all mounted on the output shaft, the inner drive plates being mounted in spaced relationship to each other, rotatably secured to the output shaft for rotation therewith, and biased apart respectively by the pair of spring washers into engagement respectively with the pair of friction plates, the friction plates being biased apart respectively by the inner drive plates under the influence of the spring washers into engagement respectively with the output plates, and the output plates being rotatably mounted on the output shaft and peripherally secured to each other to rotate as a unit, to resist the biasing forces of the spring washers, and maintain a fixed axially spaced relationship therebetween.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a manually operable means for moving the handle operating carriage and means for interrupting a' power circuit to the gear motor upon operation of the manually operable means.

i 8. An assembly as'claimed in claim 7, wherein the manually operable means comprises a drive shaft, a crank arm having an end portion fixedly mounted on the drive shaft, and a link having one end portion pivotally connected to the handle operating carriage and an opposite end portion pivotally connected to a free end portion of the crank arm, the drive shaft being rotatable by a suitable tool to effect movement of thecrank arm, link, and handle operating carriage.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, including a normally open switch having an outwardly biased depressible operating button and a pivotable actuating lever operatively associated with the operating button, a collar surrounding the drive shaft, a bracket secured to the collar and operatively associated with the actuating lever of the switch, and biasing means associated with the collar and bracket whereby the bracket urgesthe actuating lever toward a closing position with respect to the operating button of the switch. v 

1. An assembly comprising an electrical control device having an elongated, generally rectangular casing with a generally planar front surface and a generally planar side surface disposed at right angles to each other, the device also having a pivotable operating handle extending outwardly of the casing through the front surface thereof, and an actuating mechanism for the operating handle, the actuating mechanism including a reversible gear motor disposed adjacent the side surface of the casing rearwardly of the front surface and having a rotatable output shaft extending generally perpendicularly to the side surface of the casing, a frame mounted on the front surface of the casing and surrounding the operating handle, a handle operating carriage connected to the handle and reciprocably mounted on the frame for movement in the directions of pivotable movement of the handle, and motion converting means for converting rotary motion of the output shaft of the gear motor into linearly reciprocal movement of the handle operating carriage.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced elongated guide plates disposed parallel to the directions of travel of the pivotable operating handle on opposite sides thereof and each having a first longitudinal slot and a second longitudinal slot respectively aligned with those of the other, said handle operating carriage includes a mounting member having carriage supporting pin means projecting respectively from opposite sides thereof into the first slots of the guide plates, handle-gripping means secured to and extending rearwardly from the mounting member and gripping the operating handle of the electrical control device, and a pair of slotted driving link members disposed between the guide plates respectively on opposite sides of the mounting memBer and reciprocably mounted respectively on the carriage supporting pin means, each driving link member having a tang extending rearwardly into overlapping relationship with the second slot of the respective guide plate, and said motion converting means includes a pair of driving pins respectively extending through the second slots of the guide plates from the outer sides thereof and being engageable respectively with the tangs of the driving link members.
 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second slot of each of the guide plates is transversely enlarged adjacent opposite ends to permit disengagement of the driving pins respectively from the tangs of the driving link members and relative shifting of the driving pins respectively from one side of the tangs to the other.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, including a pair of spring members mounted on the frame respectively adjacent the inner sides of the guide plates and adjacent one end of the first slots thereof, the spring members being engageable respectively with the driving link members and insuring reverse shifting thereof after disengagement of the driving pins from the tangs thereof.
 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion converting means includes a torque limiting device.
 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the torque limiting device comprises a pair of inner drive plates, a pair of spring washers, a pair of friction plates, and a pair of output plates all mounted on the output shaft, the inner drive plates being mounted in spaced relationship to each other, rotatably secured to the output shaft for rotation therewith, and biased apart respectively by the pair of spring washers into engagement respectively with the pair of friction plates, the friction plates being biased apart respectively by the inner drive plates under the influence of the spring washers into engagement respectively with the output plates, and the output plates being rotatably mounted on the output shaft and peripherally secured to each other to rotate as a unit, to resist the biasing forces of the spring washers, and maintain a fixed axially spaced relationship therebetween.
 7. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a manually operable means for moving the handle operating carriage and means for interrupting a power circuit to the gear motor upon operation of the manually operable means.
 8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the manually operable means comprises a drive shaft, a crank arm having an end portion fixedly mounted on the drive shaft, and a link having one end portion pivotally connected to the handle operating carriage and an opposite end portion pivotally connected to a free end portion of the crank arm, the drive shaft being rotatable by a suitable tool to effect movement of the crank arm, link, and handle operating carriage.
 9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, including a normally open switch having an outwardly biased depressible operating button and a pivotable actuating lever operatively associated with the operating button, a collar surrounding the drive shaft, a bracket secured to the collar and operatively associated with the actuating lever of the switch, and biasing means associated with the collar and bracket whereby the bracket urges the actuating lever toward a closing position with respect to the operating button of the switch. 